Window-regulating device



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Jan. 5 1926.

p. MILLER WINDOW REGULATING DEVICE 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April11,,

' INVENTOR orr/zfizzer' ATTORNEY Jan. 5 1926.-

D. MILLER I WINDOW REGULATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 111923 flan" BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

norm MILLER, or TOLEDO, onro.

WINDOW-REGULATING nnvrcn.

Application filed April 11,1923. Serial l l'o. 631,275.

To all whonm't may concem:

Be it known that I, Donn MILLER, a'citizen of the United States, and aresident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas andState of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vindow-RegulatingDevices of which the following is'a specification.

Thisinvention relates to window regulators and consists of an improvedwindow operating mechanism particularly adapted for use in automobilebody construction of the limousine or closed body types. The device ofthe present invention is designed with the particular object ofproducing a regulating .lllGClltllllSIIl possessing important advantagesover the mechanisms at presentused and which will be sturdy andeconomical of construction and more efficient in its operation.

Important and valuable features of my improved regulator include animproved construction and arrangement of the parts which allows of theready application of the device to the door or body construction whereits use is desired with the minimum of interference with other structureand thereby avoiding to a large degree weakening other membersof -thebody construction,

as for examplethe lock board of a doorstructure when mounted thereon.The im-' 'proved mechanism is of a design which allows ot-its operationmanually from a plurality of conveniently located points therebypermitting a desirable choice of location of the operating handle whichmay thus be determined with relation to the-location of the seatingarrangement of varied bodied designs. It is of few and simple partswhich may be reassembled upon a suitable. supporting plate andtherebyadapted for unit installation and the parts thereof are of a sizeand arrangement which permits of-generally universal application to thecommercial narrow and wide door standards of the industry and likewisefor operating the glass of the body rear quarter as the mechanism iscompact and adaptable to short or long lifts as the circumstancesrequire. In addition my improved mechanlsm by reason of its improvedmanner ofoperation allows of liberal tolerances and in 0011- sequenceeconomy in its manufacture as dellcate parts and accurate adjustmentsare not essential to its proper operation. It is moreover designed tosupport and apply the hit dency of'the glass ing forces to the undersideand centrally of i the window glass, thereby to avoid the tenbindingwithin its Guiding channels or slots. My improved mec ianisrn furtherprovides for the desirable counterbalancing of the window pane in amanner to insure ease in its action.

Further features and advantages of my improved regulator mechanism willbe more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a desirable embodiment thereof and wherein like referencenumerals are employed to designate the corresponding parts in theseveral views.

In theldrawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation illustrating tie regulator mechanismof my invention as applied to an automobile door structure for operatingthe'glass thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3. is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with the parts shown in theopposite extreme position as assumed when the glass'is fully lowered. Y

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation illustrating a modification in thelocation of the operating lever.

In the approved embodiment of the features of my invention as hereindisclosed the mechanism is illustrated as applied to an automobile doorstructure for operating the window or glass thereof. The door is showncomposed of the frame members 1, the vertical members thereof beingprovided with the usual vertical and inwardly directed guide slots 2providing guide-way within which is received the window glass 3 adaptedto be moved vertically for opening and closing the window aperture inthe usual manner. The glass is supported at its lower edge within achannel member 4 and the door is provided with the usual cross-bracingmember or look board 5 connecting the opposite vertical frame members.

The operating parts of my improved window regulating device aredesirably mount ed upon a supporting plate 6, which, as shown, is a flatplate of suitable form and is attached to the lock board 5 of the doorby means of the securing screws 77. The operating parts comprise awindow regulating lever and toggle actuating links or levers therefordesigned to be movable above of operation and smoothness substantial orextended movement to the operating end of the operating lever, whichwill be vertical and rectilinear in direction.

Of the operating parts, 10 is the operat- .ing lever having an armextension provided with a pin 11 fitted within the elongated slot 12 ofconnecting'member 13 depending from and attached to the supportingchannel 4 carrying the glass to be operated. The lever 10 is fulcrumedupon a pin 15 supported upon the outer extremity of a lifting bell-cranklever 16 having a rearwardly extended arm 17 rigidly connected .theretoand keyed upon a bearing pin or spindle 18 suitably journalled andsupported by the plate 6. The operating lever 10 at one end is pivotallyconnected at 20 to a toggle arm 21 which at its center portion isprovided with a fulcrum pin or roller. 22 fitted within the horizontallyextended and enlongated slot 23 formed in the supporting plate 6, asshown. The opposite end of the toggle arm 21 is pivotally connected by apin 25 with an arm 26 of a bellcrank lever having a second arm 27 andpivotally supported upon the center bearing spindle or pin 18, as shown.Upper and lower equalizing arms 29 and 30 are arranged, as shown, eachpivot-ally supported at its outer end upon a fulcrum pin or roller 31fitted within a longitudinally extended slot 32 formed in the supportingplate 6.

' The inner ends of equalizing arms 29 and 30 are pivotally connectedrespectively to the arms 17 and 27 of the bell-crank levers by means ofthe pivotal bearing pins 34 and 35.

As will be noted the horizontally extended guiding slots 23 and 32 areformed in the plate 6 in the horizontal plane of the axis of the bearingpin or spindle 18 which for distinction is hereinafter referred to asthe center hearing. The arms 17 and 27 of the respective bell-cranklevers are arranged in right angular relation to their complemental arms16 and 26 and are reversely disposed in symmetrical angular relation tothe horizontal plane of the center bearing. The pivotal connections 34and are likewise symmetrically positioned at opposite sides of thehorizontal line through the center bearing, with the equalizing armsreversely and symmetrically positioned above and below this horizontalplane. The bell-crank lever arms 16 and 26, the operating lever 10 andthe toggle arm 21 form an articulated rectangular toggle structure theopposite members of. which are parallel and of equal length. Also, aswill be noted by reference to Fig. 1, the upwardly extended portion ofthe operating lever 10 from the center of pivot 15 to the center of thepivot 11 corresponds in length to the distance between the center ofpivot 15 to the center bearing or axis of the center bearing spindle 18.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the manipulating means for the operatinglevers consists of a crank-handle or lever 40 fixed upon the externalend of a shaft 41 suitably journalled upon the supporting plate 6 and.having secured upon its inner end portion a pinion 42, the teeth ofwhlch mesh with a gear segment 44 supported upon an exten-- sion of thebell-crank arm 17 and at its lower end upon an arm 45 which is anextension of the lever 16. Thus the gear segment is rigidly supported bythe lifting lever 16 by means of its rigid arm extensions -whereby thegear segment 44 rotates about the center bearing 18 and is accordinglyformed concentric therewith. Turning of the crank 40 will efl'ect themovement of the operating levers to transmit the movement to the glass 3for raising and lowering of the latter.

In the operation from the extreme elevated position, as indicated inFig; 1, the respective levers will move in the directions as indicated bthe arrows and simultaneously the sliding fulcrums 22 and 31 will movehorizontally within the slotted guideways until the parts assume thefinal positlon, as indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the glass is shown fullylowered. In this movement the operating end of the operating lever 10,as defined by the connecting or coupling pin 11 will move verticallywith a rectilinear movement by reason of the toggle action of therectangular articulated structure composed of members 10, 16, 21 and 26during which movement the pivotal points 15, 20 and 25 will pass centerwith relation to the horizontal plane through the center-bearing 18.During the operating movement the' symmetrical angular relations of thelinks are maintained under the controlling influence of the slidingfulcrums, which as indicated, are guided to move in a rectilinear plane.As otherwise expressed with relation to thearticulated rectangularstructure, composed of members 10, 16, 21 and 26 the center bearing 18and sliding fulcrum 22 control the movement of the respective linkswhereby they will maintain a symmetrical relation at all times to thehorizontal plane whereby the movement imparted to the coupling. pin 11will be rectilinear and vertical in direction.

The characteristics of the operating move-- ment may perhaps be besti'niderstooiil when considered with respect to the vertical plane asdefined by the line of travel of the pin 11. It will be. notedwithrelation to this vertical plane that the lifting lever 16 and theoperating lever extension. of a length equal thereto, conform to the twosides of a triangle which uniformly change their angular relation duringtheir movement to reversal of position. In consequence, the

movement will define the base of the respective triangles completed bythe two side members both above and below the central longitudinal planeand accordingly its pathv of movement is established as a straight line.

This symmetrical movement of the angular members is insured by thecontrolling action of the fulcrum points 18 and 22 which are fixed withreference to the horizontal plane. It, therefore, occurs that theangular members are movable only in unison and in what may be termedamovablesymn'ictrical relation to a fixed plane to produce a straightline or vertical operating movement. It will be noted that in the fullpast center movement in one direction as from the extreme upper'to theextreme lowerposition of the glass 3 the fulcrum 22' will move frominitial position indicated in Fig. 1 to' the oppositeend of the slot 23and return to initial position as indicated in Fig. 3.

With the described construction 1 desir-' ably associate suitable means-for counterbalancing the weight ot the glass and other moving parts andfor this purpose is here shown a helical spring 50. This spring at itsinnermost coil is bent to a squared form and closely fittedtoa uaredportion 51 of the center bearing spin le 18and the outer extremity of"the spring is formed with a -loop or hook portion 52 fitted to anextension of the pivot 25. With this arrangement the spring is assembledunder tension, as indicated in Fig. 1, to exert a pressure in thedirection tending to elevate the glass and to a degree to produce acounter-balancing eflect. Incidental to this structure the tension ofthe spring may be readily varied to meet S)8ClfiC conditions byassembling the square innermost coil thereof in varied positions uponthe squared portion 51 of the center bearin While as dls closed in Figs.1, 2 and 3 a segmental rack and lever operated pinion may be employed tomanipulate my improved regulating device, and as will appear quiteobvious from thecon'struction other manipulating means may be employedthere with for the lever arrangement is susceptible to manipulation fromdifferently located points. This offers a material advantage inpermitting the location of the operating lever to be varied inaccordance with the body seating arrangement. As illustrative thereof ahand lever or handle may be extcrnally fixed to an extended portion ofthe fulcrum pin 31 to operate with a sliding movement to manipulate myimproved clevice. As will be obvious this latter arrangement may beemployed alone as the manipulating means or'in conjunction with othermeans. as shown.

As further illustrated in Fig. 4 and in .dottedllines} in Fig.2, myimproved device may also bemanipulated by a hand lever 61', ,fixed toanexternallyv extended portion of the "center bearing spindle 18. Alsowhere thismeans is employed as the sole means of operation, as indicatedin Fig. 4:, and as will be understood,.the segmental rack and pinion ofFigsll to 3 may be omitted to- 'gether' with the supporting armstherefor.

My improved mechanism'as disclosed is of a type particularly welladapted for economy in manufacture and particularly adaptable to variedinstallations by reason of its compactness and as hereinbefore referredto is advantageous and economical sen'ibling of the operating parts atthe point of manufacture thereby allowing install-ation as a unit by thebody builders. The rectangular articulated lever structure is efficientin its operation and adapted to impart or transmit a long throw movementto the window with economy of structure by reason of the toggle actionand pass center movement. This *movement is moreover definitelycontrolled and guided by the movable fulcrum points whereby theoperating end of the operating lever moves in a straight line whichinsures smoothness in its operation'by avoiding lateral pressures; Myimproved structure as aforesaid is further advantageous in allowing forthe varied positioningof the manipulating levers and the presence of thecounter-balancing spring provides for the takinq up of all lost motionin a manner, w llCll contributes to silence in operation.

Having described my invention I claim: 1. In a window regulator, incombination in pern'iittii ig substantially completed asarticulatedoperating connections therefor comprising angulaidy disposed operatinglevers, movable fulcrum means to control the movement of said levers insymmetrical angular relationto a fixed plane for transmitting arectilinear motion to the operated member, resilient means suitablyconnected to the operating connections tocounterbalance the. weight ofthe parts and means adapted for manually manipulating the operatingconnections.

2. In a window regulator, the combination of a window member to beoperated, articulated operating connections therefor comprisingangular-1y disposed operating levers, said operatinglevcrs being movableabove and below center to extend the movement in reversed angularrelation. means to actuate the levers and equalizing means connected tothe operating levers at each side of the neutral plane to balance theoperating pressures throughout the movement.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a movable, member to be operated, of an. articulatedoperating lever structure comprising reversely arranged bell-cranklevers, toggle lever connections pivotally connecting one arm of each ofthe bell-crank levers, oneof said connections having an operating leverextension connected to the movable member, means to control the movementof said levers in symmetrical angular relation to a fixed plane wherebya rectilinear movement is transmitted to the operated member,

ranged bell-crank levers, toggle lever con nections pivotallyconnect-ingone arm of each of the bell-crank levers, one of saidconnections having an operating lever extension connected to the movablemembery means to control the movement of said levers in symmetricalangular relation to a fixed plane whereby a rectilinear movement istransmitted to the operated member, said bell-crank levers being movablepast center to extend the movement in reversed angular relation andmanipulating means comprising a segmental gear carried by one of thebell-crank levers, an operating pinion suitably journalled to meshtherewithand airexternally arranged lever rotatably secured to thepinion and a counter-balance spring connected to the respectivebellcrank reversely and operative normally to impart a lifting pressurethereon to counterbalance the weight of the parts.

5. In a device of the character described the combination with a movablemember to be operated, of articulated operating connections thereforcomprising angularly disposed operating levers, means to control themovement of said levers to transmit a rectilinear movementto theoperated member, a supporting member providing hearing support for theoperating connectionswhereby they are adapted for unit installation andsaid operating connect-ions being arranged to allow for the applicationof a ,-.manipulating lever in varied position thereom-substantially asdescribed.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablemember to be operated, an articulated operating lever mechanismcomprising reversely' arranged bell-crank levers, toggle leverconnect-ions pivotally connected therewith to. form the rectangulartoggle acting structure having a fixed bearing at one pivotal point anda movable fulcrum bearing in horizontal alignment therewith, one of thetoggle levers having an operating extension connected to the member tobe operated equalizing levers pivotally connected to a, common pivotalbearing supported to be movable in the horizontal plane of the fixedbearing aforesaid, said equalizing levers being arranged respectivelyabove and below said horizontal plane and pivotally connected to arms ofthe respective bell-crank levers and a hand lever suit-ably connected tothe operating mechanism for manual manipulation thereof. a

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablemember to be operated, an articulated operating lever mechanismcomprising reversely arranged belhcrank levers, toggle lever connectionspivotally connected therewith to form the rectangular toggle actingstructure having a fix d bearing at one pivotalpoint and a movablefulcrum bearing in horizontal alignment therewith, one of the togglelevers having an operating extension, connected to the member to beoperated equalizing levers pivotally connected to a common piv otalbearing supported to be movable in ahorizontal plane of the fixedbearing aforesaid, said equalizing levers being arranged respectivelyabove andbelow said horizontal plane and pivotally connected to arms ofthe respective bell-crank levers and a hand lever suitably connected tothe operating mechanism for manual manipulation thereof in a helicalcounter-balance spring connected respectively at its inner and outerends to exert pressure upon the bell-crank. levers in the directiontending to elevate the movable member, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a movable member to be operated, an articulatedoperating lever mechanism comprising reversely arranged bell-cranklevers, toggle lever connections pivotally connected therewith to formthe rectangular toggleacting structure having a fixed bearing at onepivotal point and a movable fulcrum 3 bearing 'in horizontal alignmenttherewith, one of the toggle levers having an operating extension con:nected to the member to be operated equalizing levers pivotallyconnected to a common pivotal bearing supported to be movable in thehorizontal plane of the fixed bearing aforesaid, said equalizing leversbeing arranged respectively above and below said horizontal plane andpivotally connected to arms of the respective bell-crank andmanipulating means therefor comprising a segmental gear supported uponone of the bell-crank levers, a pinion suitably -journalled to meshtherewith and an externally arranged hand lever attached to said pinion,substantially as described.

9. In a window regulator, the combination of a window member to beoperated, and operating means therefor comprising a supporting andbearing plate adapted to be secured to a window frame member, anactuating pinion suitably journalled in said bearing plate andpositioned to the inner side thereof, an operating handle rotatablysecured to said pinion and positioned at the opposite or outer side ofsaid bearing plate, a bearing stud mounted upon the supporting member, alifting lever suitably journalled upon said bearing stud and positionedat the inner side thereof, said lifting lever being provided with asegmental operating gearengaged by said pinion connections from theliftlng lever to the window member anda counter-balance spring securedat its inner end to the bearing stud and connected at its outer end tothe operating means and said spring being positioned at the outer oroperating handle side of the bearing plate, substantially as described.

10. In a window regulator, the combina tion of a window member to beoperated, of an articulated operating lever mechanism comprisingreversely arranged bell crank levers, toggle lever connections pivotallyconnecting one arm of each of the bell crank levers, one of saidconnections having an operating lever extension connected to the windowmember, means to control the movement of'said levers in symmetricalangular relation to a fixed plane whereby a rectilinear movement istransmitted to the operating member, said means comprising a movablefulcrum bearing upon one of said connecting members, said bell cranklevers being movable above and below their bearing point to extend themovement in reverse angular relation and manipulating means foractuating the operating lever mechanism, substantially as described.

4 11. In a window regulator, the combination of a window member to beoperated, of

an articulated operating lever mechanism comprising reversely arrangedbell crank levers, toggle lever connections pivotally connecting one armof each of the bell crank levers, one of said connections having anoperating lever extension connected to the window member, means tocontrol the movement of said levers in symmetrical angular relation to afixed plane whereby a rectilinear movement is transmitted to theoperating member, said means comprising a movable fulcrum bearing uponone of said connecting members, and manipulating means for actuating theoperating lever mechanism, substantially as described.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this 29thday of March A. D. 1923.

DORR MILLER.

